Sports Writer
Baylor baseball announced five new signees to the program on Wednesday, during the early signing period. Right-handed pitchers Collin Garrett, Kyle Hill, left-handed pitchers Cody Moos, T.J. Raguse, and shortstop Jon Skidmore are set to join the Bears in the fall of 2015 after signing National Letters of Intent.
Four of the five are ranked in the national top 500 recruits, top 250 by position and Texas’ top 150, according to the scouting service Perfect Game.
The signees add pitching depth to head coach Steve Smith’s ball club, known for his focus on having a solid pitching staff over the years.
Garrett, 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, is from Montgomery High School. He holds a 16-9 record with 155 strikeouts in high school. He posted a .316 batting average in his junior year.
“Collin is a power arm with tremendous upside. He has imposing size, athletic ability, as well as mental and physical toughness,” Smith said.
Hill, 6-foot, 185 pounds, comes from Calallen High School in Corpus Christi. He earned third team All-State honors in 2014.
“Kyle is a very polished young pitcher. He’s a power arm with very good secondary pitches. Another outstanding product of the Calallen High School program,” Smith said.
Moos, 6-foot-1, 172-pound left-handed pitcher from Medina Valley High School in Castroville. He pitched an 8-2 record with a 0.68 ERA, 101 strikeouts in 62 innings in his junior year last season. Notably, he was a State finalist in the 4×400 relay and set a school record with a 3:19:78 time.
“Cody is a very competitive, athletic left-handed pitcher,” Smith said. “He is also a starting receiver for his Medina Valley High School football team. Has the athletic ability and arm action to be very successful.”
Raguse, 6-foot, 170 pounds, is a utility, heavy-hitting player from Georgetown High School. He plays first base, outfield, and pitches left-handed. He was named All-District team and Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014. He earned second-team All-State and first-team All-Central Texas honors in 2014. Raguse hit .467 as a junior last season.
“T.J. is among the best hitters across the country this year. He has the frame to carry additional strength. Really like his toughness and how he plays the game,” Smith said.
Skidmore, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, is the lone non-pitcher of the five signees. He plays for Highland Park High School and posted a .311 batting average as a junior. He earned second-team All-District in 2013 and was named the All-District Shortstop in 2014.
“Jon is a very physical player with the defensive skills to play in the middle of the field, Smith said. “He’s got exceptional arm strength and the potential to hit in the middle of the order.”
